Syrian authorities impose curfew in Latakia as violence surges

Following deadly attacks on predominantly Alawite neighbourhoods in the country’s western coastal region, Syrian authorities imposed an overnight curfew in the coastal city of Latakia.

According to state media reports from Tuesday, authorities in Latakia detained 21 people allegedly connected to Bashar al-Assad’s ousted regime.

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21 “former regime remnants who are engaged in criminal acts, sectarian incitement, and targeting internal security forces” have been detained by security forces in the coastal province.

According to the Ministry of Interior, the curfew began at 5 p.m. (14 p.m. GMT) on Tuesday and continued until 6 a.m. (03 p.m. GMT) on Wednesday.

Unidentified people attacked Latakia’s Alawite-majority neighbourhoods on Monday, causing damage to cars and vandalizing shops, according to the move.

Following deadly protests by Alawite minority members the day before, the violence came. At least three people were killed in a bombing that occurred in the central city of Homs as Syrian security forces attempted to disperse the crowds.

One of the dead was a member of Syria’s security forces.

The government of President Ahmed al-Sharaa, which has been trying to stabilise the nation and rekindle international ties after 14 years of civil war, faces yet another setback.

After a coalition of opposition forces took control of Damascus in December 2024, the new president of Syria took office, bringing an end to more than 50 years of al-Assad family rule.

stability and security

Since then, his government has had to reaffirm authority and restore security in a divided nation.

The Ministry of Defense announced on Sunday that Syrian government troops would be stationed in Latakia and Tartous, according to a statement from the ministry.

Authorities in Latakia reported on Monday that security forces “reinforced their deployment in a number of neighbourhoods” to “monitor the situation on the ground, enhance security and stability, and ensure the safety of citizens and property.”

Latakia, which is a coastal region in Syria, has a mix of communities, including those with Sunni and Alawite populations.

Since the al-Assad government’s fall in December 2024, alawite communities have become increasingly targeted.

One of the most deadly instances of violence since the end of the civil war, hundreds of Alawite were killed in coastal areas in March. Some minority groups claim their future is uncertain despite repeated assurances from Damascus that all of Syria’s communities will be protected.